ETFO Awards Honourary Life Memberships

TORONTO, Aug. 14 /CNW/ - The Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario
(ETFO) honoured five people last night at its Annual Meeting. Bill Getty and
Eileen Markwick from Toronto, Wendy Matthews from Wellington, Gayle Manley
from Sault Ste. Marie, and Peter Andrusco from Dryden became the latest ETFO
honourary life members.
Honourary Life Memberships, the federation's highest form of recognition,
are given to members who have retired from the education profession and who
have given outstanding service to the federation at the provincial level.
Wendy Matthews has had an extensive career in unionism, both with ETFO
and with the Federation of Women Teachers' Associations of Ontario (FWTAO),
one of ETFO's predecessor organizations. Her many accomplishments include
achieving salary increases for women teachers through pay equity legislation,
creating the first union school, and implementing a government funded and
recognized anti-racist program. "Wendy's commitment has positively affected
education and educators across the province," said ETFO President David Clegg.
Throughout her 36-year career in education, federation involvement has
been a major part of Gayle Manley's professional life. She has served as
secretary and professional development committee member with FWTAO in
Peterborough, and as president of both the FWTAO Local in Sault Ste. Marie and
the ETFO Algoma Local. One of the longest standing executive members in ETFO's
history, Manley "has been committed to sharing her expertise to further the
cause of teachers and public education across the province," said Clegg.
Bill Getty retires after a 26-career serving as a teacher advocate with
the Toronto Teachers' Federation, the Ontario Public School Teachers'
Federation, and ETFO. During that period, he developed an extensive level of
expertise in negotiations, collective bargaining and counselling. "Bill has
represented teachers at every level of their professional lives and has seen
the difference it has made," said Clegg.
Peter Andrusco spent 36 years as a teacher and union leader in Dryden,
serving as local president with the Ontario Public School Teachers'
Federation, and as local vice-president and president with ETFO. In January
2001, he led his members in a successful strike after being local president
for only four months. "Peter's commitment was always first and foremost to his
members," said Clegg.
Eileen Markwick retires after a 38-year career with ETFO and FWTAO. She
served in virtually all positions with FWTAO in the city of York, including
president, and has been an Elementary Teachers of Toronto (ETT) regional
councillor, executive officer, member of the ETT negotiation team, and ETT
representative on many board committees. ETFO's Clegg called Marwich a "true
advocate for public education, teachers, and social justice."
The Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario represents 73,000
elementary public school teachers and education workers across Ontario and is
the largest teacher federation in Canada.